• THERESA MAE DULMAN
A high-ranking police officer with nearly 33 years of service was found dead in a pool of blood inside his residence in Barangay Handumanan, Bacolod City, on Tuesday morning.
The victim was identified as Police Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Vargas, 56, an active member of the Philippine National Police (PNP) serving as the Administrative Officer and Chief City Administrative and Resource Management Unit of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO).
Bacolod City Police Office Director Police Colonel Eugene Rebadomia said that the investigation has been fully turned over to the Scene of the Crime Operatives to officially determine whether foul play was involved in the veteran officer’s passing.
Initial investigation from Police Station 10 revealed that at around 11:30 p.m. on Monday, the victim’s daughter went to her bedroom to sleep, while her father went to his own room.
The following morning, at around 8 a.m., the eldest daughter grew concerned after noticing that her father’s motorcycle was still parked at the house.
Upon checking his bedroom, she discovered the police official lying on the floor covered in blood.
Reports also said that the daughter and neighbors did not hear any gunshots.
The Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) in a statement expressed its deepest condolences to the bereaved family and colleagues of the veteran officer.
“PLt. Col. Vargas dedicated years of service to the Philippine National Police with commitment and professionalism, and his passing is deeply felt within the police organization and the community he served,” the PRO NIR said.
The regional command assured the public that a thorough and impartial investigation is underway, with local units working in close coordination with forensic teams.
They also urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information or speculating out of respect for the grieving family and the integrity of the ongoing official proceedings.*
